foodscout blog

Time.com reported on an important Canadian study, which looked into hundreds of products marketed to children, many of which make nutritional claims on the packaging.

“Most parents already know that sugary sodas and greasy potato chips are not the healthiest food choices for children. But what about the hundreds of other widely available and kid-friendly packaged foods — pastas, frozen dinners, granola bars — that at least appear to be more wholesome?

“A new Canadian study suggests that even these foods — most of which make nutritional claims on the packaging — aren’t all they profess to be.”

Read the full story on Time.com here

At foodscout, we believe the only real health food is the food that nature provides. Very few people can eat a perfect diet all of the time and it isn’t necessary to do so. But when you buy processed and packaged foods, do so consciously. Acknowledge that it isn’t the ideal choice. This awareness will encourage you to buy healthier foods going forward.

We like to follow what we light-heartedly call the “foodscout diet” - eating the foods that we list on our site. But we also sometimes like to give into our cravings and have a little treat. At this point, even our binges are relatively healthy, so this might take the form of BBQ tofu, Greens+ Chocolate Bars, or a vegan gluten-free pizza. For us, this is a deviation from what we know we should be eating, so we acknowledge that fact and enjoy these treats with this awareness. Over time, we have decreased the frequency of such deviations.

Don’t blindly assume that something is healthy just because the package says it is. Marketing companies know that health is a big seller and they have no problem labeling high fat, high salt, nutritionally deficient foods as “health food.” Decide for yourself what your diet standards are and stick with them.

From the Associated Press:

“Rana Parker tells pudgy police they have the right to remain chubby, but it can and will be used against them on the streets of Los Angeles. The dietitian lays down the law for recruits, veterans and top brass, letting them know that eating right can help them do a better job and could even save their lives.”

Reuters reported on a new study linking low levels of vitamin D with depression.  The study does not conclude whether the vitamin D deficiency is a cause or a consequence of the depression.

If it is the cause, this would confirm a physiological connection between sunlight and happiness.

Seniors, particularly those in nursing homes, are at risk of a vitamin D deficiency because they do not spend as much time outdoors.

A new study, reported by the BBC, shows that cooked tomatoes help guard against sunburn, wrinkles, and even skin cancer, by protecting the skin from UV rays.

We suggest though, that you ignore the reporter’s statement that “pizza and spaghetti bolognese could become new tools in the fight against sunburn and wrinkles” and just focus on eating more tomatoes with your healthy meals. Pizza and spaghetti do not qualify.

More information on the health benefits of tomatoes can be found on our Tomatoes page.

More information on foods and nutrients that are beneficial to the skin can be found on our Skin page.

Reuters reports on a study validating that changes in diet can help control diabetes and blood sugar levels: “In children and adolescents with type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes, consumption of a low glycemic index diet may improve blood sugar control, according to results of a National Institutes of Health-sponsored study.

“Glycemic index, or GI, refers to how rapidly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High-GI foods, like white bread and potatoes, tend to spur a quick surge in blood sugar, while low-GI foods, such as lentils, soybeans, yogurt and many high-fiber grains, create a more gradual increase in blood sugar.”

For helpful information on what kinds of foods can help control blood sugar, visit our Blood Sugar page in the Health Benefits section.

Reuters reports on the importance of observing your bowel movements to determine the state of your internal health, and give some tips about what to look for.

“When it comes to ways to keep track of our health, a daily peek in the toilet bowl is probably not what first comes to mind. But one gastroenterologist says that your bowel movements can be an important clue to the state of your digestive health.”

Read the full article on Reuters.

“Tai Chi exercises can help people with type 2 diabetes control their condition, research suggests.

“Two separate studies found a 12-week programme of exercise was enough to boost the immune system, and to cut blood sugar levels.

“The traditional Chinese martial art combines deep breathing and gentle movement to boost relaxation levels.”

Read the full article on BBC Health News

This is a very interesting opinion piece that highlights the importance of buying both local and organic.  Produce grown in Latin America are often sprayed with highly toxic pesticides that are banned in the United States and are killing migratory song birds at an alarming rate.

Read the op-ed in the New York Times.

From BBC Health News: “Researchers found high dietary folate was linked to lower levels of sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes.  Folate, also protective against birth defects, is found in leafy green vegetables, fruit and pulses.”

Read more about this study on BBC News.

Read more about folate at foodscout.org.

Recognizing that people are becoming increasingly interested in eating healthy food, and also that people are becoming increasingly confused about which foods are healthy, some grocery stores are putting “nutrition score cards” on all of their foods. These score cards will rate the nutritional value of foods on a scale from 1 to 100.

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune.